Finding Aid to the Martha s Vineyard Museum Record Unit 339 Captain Peter Cromwell Papers, By Nancy Cole and Zachary Gerson-Nieder

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1 Finding Aid to the Martha s Vineyard Museum Record Unit 339 Captain Peter Cromwell Papers, By Nancy Cole and Zachary Gerson-Nieder Descriptive Summary Repository: Martha s Vineyard Museum Call No. Title: Captain Peter Cromwell Papers Creator: Nancy Cole and Zachary Gerson-Nieder Quantity:.25 cubic feet Abstract: This collection of the papers of Captain Peter Cromwell contains business and personal correspondence, as well as a legal document from the period before his death in It also includes family papers, connected to his wife and children, both while he was alive and after his death. Administrative Information Acquisition Information: The Captain Peter Cromwell Papers were acquired by the Martha s Vineyard Museum in by. Processing Information: Nancy Cole Access Restrictions: none Use Restrictions: none Preferred citation for publication: Martha s Vineyard Museum, Captain Peter Cromwell Papers, Record Unit 339. Index Terms Captain Peter Cromwell Susan (Cleveland) Cromwell Susan Folger Cromwell Presbury Coffin Cromwell Peter T. Cromwell Bark Malta Bark Sunbeam Ship Clifford Wayne Ship Cortes Ship Reindeer Schooner Memento Eel River Railroad Company 1

2 Series and Subseries Arrangement Series I: Personal Papers Series II: Personal Correspondence Subseries A: Correspondence from Wife Subseries B: Correspondence from Sisters Subseries C: Correspondence from Brothers Subseries D: Miscellaneous Correspondence Series III: Business Papers Series IV: Legal Papers Series V: Miscellaneous Papers Series VI: Family Papers Subseries A: Person Papers Subseries B: Legal Papers Subseries C: Insurance Policies Subseries D: Receipts Subseries E: Stocks and Shares Subseries F: Ship Accounts Subseries G: Correspondence Subseries H: Miscellaneous Historical Note: Captain Peter Cromwell was born in Tisbury on February 7, 1814, one of five children of Moses and Jedidah (Coffin) Cromwell. He was a master mariner and leading whaleman who was First Mate and Captain on several whaleships. His brother Samuel was also a First Mate and Captain on whaleships. His brother Benjamin was well known as a Captain of the New Bedford, Martha s Vineyard and Nantucket Steamboat Company. On August 18, 1844, Peter married Susan Cleveland. They had three children, Susan Folger, b. 7/9/1845, Presbury Coffin, b. 3/9/1851, and Peter T. b. 3/2/1854. Like most whaling captains, Peter was away for many of the years when his children were young. He died on 9/16/1857, while at sea on one of those voyages, as Captain of the Reindeer. As a First Mate or Captain of a whaling vessel, Peter earned between 1/22 and 1/13 lay or share of the proceeds from the voyage. As a result, he made enough money to invest in shares of whaling vessels (the Clifford Wayne and the Sunbeam) and to purchase a pew in the Baptist Church in Tisbury. As a seaman, often away from home for several years at a time, Peter needed someone to act for him in business, legal and other transactions. On July 26, 1845, he appointed his wife Susan to be my true and lawful attorney for me in and I my name and stead to act, transact, do, perform, negotiate and finally settle any and all business and any and 2

3 all acts and things whatsoever which I the said Peter Cromwell would legally do if personally present and acting. After his death in 1857, his wife Susan was appointed Administrator of his estate (1858) and guardian to their children (1862) by the Dukes County Probate and Insolvency Court, Commonwealth of Massachusetts. She continued to act for the family in business matters, maintaining the shares in vessels and a railroad company. Scope and Content Note: The Peter Cromwell papers include his personal, business and legal papers and family papers kept after his death in The latter makes up the majority of the papers. Among the legal papers, is a note signed by Peter in 1845 giving his wife Susan the power to act on his behalf in all matters, business, legal and otherwise when he was away at sea. After his death, she continued to keep shares in several vessels, as indicated by insurance policies and ships accounts. Series Descriptions: Series I: Personal Papers Folder 1: Poem written to Susan, signed Peter Cromwell, telegraph to Peter Cromwell, 13, February, 1856 from J. R. Norton. Folder 2: Hail Columbia (in Latin and English) Series II: Personal Correspondence Subseries A: Correspondence from Susan Cromwell Folder 3: Letters from Susan to Peter Cromwell, Subseries B: Correspondence from Sisters Folder 4: Letters to Peter Cromwell from his Sisters, Subseries C: Correspondence from Brothers Folder 5: Letters to Peter Cromwell from his Brothers, Subseries D: Miscellaneous correspondence Folder 6: Misc. letters to Peter Cromwell, Series III: Business Papers Folder 7: Deed to pew in Baptist Church, Tisbury, November 9, Bill of sale for share in ship Clifford Wayne, July 20, Customs certificate for ship Cortes, Lahaina 3

4 Maui, Hawaii, April 6, Receipt for subscription to Vineyard Gazette, October 26, Insurance policy on ship Reindeer, June 10, Bill of sale for share of Bark Sunbeam, June 14, Folder 8: Financial Accounts of Peter Cromwell s voyages, Folder 9: Various Receipts, Folder 10: Custom Clearance into Lahaina, 3/6/1855 Series IV: Legal Papers, 1845 Folder 11: Appointment of Susan Cromwell, as administrator to estate of Peter Cromwell, July 26, 1845 Folder 12: Bearer s Bond preventing John Antone from leaving Lahaina, 3/17/1855 Series V: Miscellaneous Papers Folder 13: Transcription of Peter Cromwell, with notes by Peter Bigelow Series VI: Family Papers Subseries A: Personal Papers Folder 14: Poem. Fragment of music sent to Miss Susan Cleveland. Invitation to Miss Susan A. Cleveland, with sketches of whales on reverse. Invitation to Miss Susan Clevelend from K. A and L. D. Luce. Practice ledger book, Peter T Cromwell, Tisbury. Subseries B: Legal Papers, Folder 15: Legal Papers Regarding the Estate of Peter Cromwell after his Death. Subseries C: Insurance Policies, Folder 16: Insurance policies on vessels in which the family owned shares. Subseries D: Receipts Folder 17: Receipts for purchases and ships accounts. Subseries E: Stocks and Shares Folder 18: Papers relating to stock shares in the Eel River Railroad Company and share of Schooner Memento. 4

5 Subseries F: Ship Accounts, Folder 19: Ships Accounts for Bark Sunbeam and Ship Reindeer. Subseries G: Correspondence, Folder 20: Susan Cromwell Correspondence, Subseries H: Miscellaneous Folder 21: U.S. Income Tax worksheet for Susan Cromwell, Notice of a lecture at the Holmes Hole Baptist Church. 5